Can for paints, varnishes, or similar substances.



D. w. ROBERTS.

CAN FOR PAINTS, VARNISHES, 0R SIMILAR SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-31.1913- 1,171,139, v Patented Feb. 8,1916.

' DANIEL W.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERTS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BILLINGS-CHAPIN COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CAN FOR PAINTS, VARNISHES, 0R SIMILAR SUBSTANCES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 31, 1913. Serial No. 745,336.

'Varnishes, or Similar Substances, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

It is customary to put up paint or varnish, or similar liquids in cans with covers, whereby, at the end of a job, the remaining con tents of the'can may be preserved by closing the cover. It is always troublesome, however, to preserve the brushes. They must not be allowed to dry with the paint or varnish on them. A suitable vessel and liquid to preserve them is frequently not at a very simple attachment for paint and varnish cans enabling the brush to be held w ith. in the liquid in the can and at the same time the'can tightly closed. I accomplish this by providing a tubular extension, which is preferably carried by the cover of the can and has an open lower end, so that the handle of the brush may occupy the extension, with the brush bristles in the liquid. I provide the interior of the tubular extension with a holding device, as for example, oneor more springs, to engage the brush handle and suspend the brush at the desired point, so that only the bristles are immersed in the can contents The tubular extension is made removable from the cover for convenience in shipping and storing, but when in use, it makes a substantially tight connection with the cover. I prefer to effect this by providing the cover with a sleeved opening and a friction plug or screw threaded plug normally closing it. When this plug is removed the tubular extension is inserted in its place.

My invention, comprising the features above enumerated, is hereinafter more fully explained and its essential characteristics are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical :section through a can equipped with one .em-

bodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a partial plan of such can; Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section of a can provided with another form of tubular extension, the extension being shown in side elevation removed from the can for convenience of Patented Feb.

illustration; Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the extension shown in Fig. 3 and shows also a portion of the brush held thereby.

Referring by numerals to the parts shown in the drawing, 10 represents a usual can having at the upper edge an inwardly projecting flange 11,- and 12 is a usual friction top therefor, having its edge bent to present an annular groove 13 to make the desired friction engagement with the flange 11, as is well understood.

To enable the contents to be poured without removing the friction top, such top may be provided with a smaller opening, surrounded by a sleeve, which is normally closed by a plug. In Fig. 1 such sleeve is shown at 20 and has an internal screw thread and the opening is designed to be normally 7 closed by a screw threaded plug. In the form shown in Fig. 3 the sleeve, designated 21, is smooth and slightly conical and is normally closed by a suitable friction plug. My extension which carries the handle of the brush is designed to be inserted in the opening thus provided and take the place of the plug which normally closes the opening.

The extension is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 at 30 and consists of a sheet metal tube closed at the top, and in this case, provided near its lower end with an external thread 31 designed to screw into the threaded sleeve 20. In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the tubular extension, designated 32, is provided near its lower end with the inwardly tapering-portion 33, designed to fit snugly into the sleeve 21. Near the lower end of this tapered portion there may be slight projections 34 made by denting the-metal outwardly. These projections are so placed that when the extension is in the sleeve they engage the lower edge of the sleeve and prevent the extension being accidentally removed. In either case, the extension, it will be seen, provides a receptacle for the handle of the brush, so that the can may be tightly closed with the brush within it, and with its bristles in the paint or other material in the plug is removed and the extension put in its can. In this way both the brush and the can contents are preserved from deteriora: tion.

To support the brush so that only the bristles of it are in the paint or varnish, I prox'ide the interior of the extension with a suitable holder, which, in the form shown, consists of one or more springs to engage the brush handle and support the brush at any position desired. In Fig. 1 I have shown one leaf spring 40 for this purpose. This spring is secured by rivets 41, or otherwise, to the top of the extension and extending downwardly within the extension it engages the brush handle and clamps it against the side of the extension, supporting it at the elevation desired. In the form shown in Fig. 4 there are two spring leaves 42 which clamp the handle between them. These leaves are shown as portions of a U-shaped spring, the intermediate portion of which is secured by rivets 43 to the top of the extension.

It is to be understood that either form of spring may be used with either form of extension. The springs flare away from the side of the extension or from each other at their lower ends, so that the handle A of the brush may be conveniently shoved into place from below, and then the brush is supported by the spring action with its bristles B in the paint or varnish.

In using my invention, the extension is separate from the can until the latter is to be opened and then, either before or after the friction top is removed from the can, the

place. When the job is endedand it is de sired to close the can the handle of the brush is simply shoved into the grasp of the spring or springs with the brush projecting a proper amount to bring its bristles into the liquid and then the friction cover is returned to place and both the brush and the can contents are preserved for future use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination of a can, a removable cover therefor having a filling opening adapted to be closed for shipment, a sleeve permanently carried by the cover and extending inwardly from said opening, a tubular extension having a closed top and an open bottom formed at the bottom to fit snugly within said sleeve, and means within said tubular extension adapted to clamp the handle of a brush, the body of which is within the can.

2. The combination of a can, a cover therefor having an opening in it with a surrounding sleeve, a tubular extension having an open bottom and adapted to occupy said sleeve and be held therein against accidental displacement, said extension having a closed top, and a leaf spring within the extension secured to such top and depending to engage the side of the brush handle.

3. The combination of a can, a removable cover therefor having a filling opening adaptedto be closed for shipment, a sleeve mounted in said opening, a tubular extension having a closed top and an open bottom formed to fitsaidopening, and projections formed on the lower end of said tubular extension engaging said sleeve, and a spring secured to the top of said tubular extension and depending within the same and adapted to clamp the handle of the brush, the body of which is within the can.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. DANIEL W. ROBERTS. Witnesses:

S. Q). KERRnIsH, NATHANIEL D. CHAPIN. 

